(Editor’s note: The following is an unedited press release from the candidate’s campaign. We have blogged this item in order to give MassLive users the ability to comment.)

HOLYOKE -- I want to commend the efforts Jon Lumbra and his team have made on collecting these outstanding liabilities for the City of Holyoke. Jon continues to bring value to our City by applying his experiences from the private sector and tailoring them to the public sector. I will certainly look forward to working with Jon on our City finances.

Currently the City Council is facing the task of deciding to raise the sewer rates to cover the projected $1 million deficit. I would encourage Mayor Morse to work with the City Council when these funds go into free cash to transfer the money to the Sewer Department to stop a rate increase. One of the major issues with the Sewer deficit is uncollected funds, lets take the now collected deliquent property taxes and apply it there. This will give us the time needed to do a full analysis of the issues causing the Sewer deficit and present it to the citizens of Holyoke. After this information is presented it may be determined that a rate increase is necessary, but at least the citizens would be informed. We can then take more aggresive action on the deliquent sewer acccounts. Upon collecting those funds, we can reinvest in the community.